Amber Desiree “AD” Smith and Ollie Sutherland are opening up about what becoming parents means to them.
In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE ahead of the upcoming episode of Smith’s podcast What’s the Reality?, the soon-to-be mom, 34, and the Love Is Blind UK star, 33, sat down to talk about becoming parents.
When Smith asks Sutherland what he’s most excited about when becoming a dad, he tells her that it’s “so hard to summarize it” because it’s constantly changing.
“It’s so hard to summarize it,” he says. “If you’d asked me this question a year ago, I’d had an answer, and then if you’d asked me this question several months ago, when we first found out, we were expecting that [would be different].”
“Each day and each stage has made me more excited for different things and made me view fatherhood differently,” Sutherland adds.
The soon-to-be girl dad, who tied the knot with Smith in October, five months after they announced they were expecting, goes on to share that he’s looking forward to having a similar bond with his daughter that he currently has with his nieces and nephews.
“Obviously, I love my nieces and nephews and the joy they bring to my life, so I’m just excited to have that, but I haven’t got to give [them] back to my siblings at the end of the day anymore,” he explains. “And the bond I have with my niece and nephew, it’s going to be tenfold because I’m going to be the person they come to for support and love and protection.”
“I’m just looking forward to having that bond and excited about just all the fun we’re going to have,” the reality TV star continues. “It’s going to be like having a little, a mini best friend, another travel companion.”
When asking Smith what becoming a mother means to her, she admits that she doesn’t fully know yet, but can confirm that the feelings she’s experiencing now “are pretty indescribable.”
“I don’t know what it means to me yet, but I think the feelings that I’m feeling are pretty indescribable,” she says. “I just feel like this overwhelming need to protect my daughter from everything.”
“I’m so scared,” adds Smith. “Her being in here, I can protect her and keep her safe, and then I have to bring her out into this world, and I’m just like, ‘Can I put her in a bubble?'”
Roger Kisby/Getty
Smith continues, saying she wants to do everything she can to keep her baby girl safe and happy.
“I just want to put her in a bubble and just keep her safe, but I know I’m not going to be able to do that,” she says. “And I know that she’s going to have such a great dad to protect her [and a] great mom to protect her.”
She concludes, “I just want her to be safe and happy, so I think motherhood right now means just keeping her safe and happy.”
Pepelo, Pidi, Pedders, Peds, Pedge, or Pepsi. These are the endearing nicknames that Pedro Pascal’s friends, family, and colleagues call him. But for his fans, he will always be “daddy”—the irresistible heartthrob who can wear nothing more than a tank top and a pair of simple black glasses and still captivate the world.
This year, it seems that Pedro Pascal’s presence has reached new heights. Just three months ago, fan groups and movie forums were buzzing with excitement over Joel and Ellie’s grueling survival journey in
A Talented Actor and a Genuine Star
This kind of expectation isn’t new. Fans have believed in Pedro Pascal’s potential since his breakout roles in Game of Thrones and Narcos
. These supporting characters quickly caught the eye of major industry names like Matthew Vaughn, Ridley Scott, and Zhang Yimou, solidifying Pedro’s reputation as a reliable actor. Today, Hollywood now has a face that guarantees both media appeal and acting prowess.
A Versatile Pedro Pascal Is Exactly What We Need in Today’s Ever-Changing Film Industry
Few know that Pedro’s success today didn’t come easily. To pursue his artistic dream, he took on various odd jobs and played countless minor roles on stage and television for a long time. At times, his passion seemed like it might be extinguished by months of financial struggles and the uncertainty of a career in his thirties, leaving him to briefly consider a career change. Thankfully, Pedro had a support system to lean on, including his sister Javiera Balmaceda, who lent him $40 a week to make ends meet, a neighbor who took care of his dog Gretta, and Sarah Paulson, who indirectly helped him become a star with his iconic role as Oberyn Martell.
Pedro’s Ability to Deeply Understand His Characters
Pedro’s roles are often defined by several key factors, but his ability to truly understand the essence of each character stands out. Whether it’s through a single gesture or a lingering look, viewers are quick to praise the emotional intensity he conveys on-screen. Above all, what audiences feel is the passion Pedro brings to each role, from diving deep into the backstory to understanding the motivations behind his characters. His ability to adjust his facial expressions seamlessly allows him to flow between tense, dramatic scenes and moments that reveal the character’s inner thoughts with ease.
Pedro Pascal: A Master of Using Body Language to Express Emotion
On a purely professional level, there’s no denying that Pedro Pascal is an excellent actor. But that alone doesn’t explain the global fascination with this middle-aged man. Pedro’s charm also lies in his authenticity and vulnerability, which are rare qualities in celebrities. He doesn’t shy away from acknowledging his own fragility and the personal struggles he’s faced throughout his career. Even now, as he’s at the height of his success, he openly shares his challenges and even sheds tears when necessary.
The Perfect Icon of Modern Masculinity
So, what makes Pedro Pascal the ultimate symbol of masculine allure in today’s world? For generations, Latin American culture has tied masculinity to control and the rejection of emotional expression, a concept known as “machismo.” This notion has unfortunately led to a mindset where men are expected to dominate others, especially women, and anyone deemed inferior. Growing up in Chile, Pedro knows firsthand the damaging effects of such misguided views. Yet, he’s always actively resisted them, both on-screen and in real life.
Director Spike Jonze, who worked with Pedro on an Apple ad, explained the phenomenon of Pedro Pascal: “I think he’s the model of masculinity that we all crave.”
Pedro’s most public and clear resistance to machismo can be traced back to 2020, when he voiced his support for women protesting in Mexico against gender-based violence, inequality, and patriarchy, calling for a fairer system to protect their rights. Even in his recent projects like
A memorable moment also occurred when Pedro posted on Instagram supporting his transgender sister, Lux Pascal, despite the rising tide of transphobic backlash in the U.S. at the time.
Breaking Fashion Barriers and Rewriting Gender Norms
Alongside his rugged charisma on screen, Pedro’s playful and occasionally “cheesy” fashion sense has also caught the public’s eye. Along with Colman Domingo and Timothée Chalamet, Pedro has become part of the group of men breaking barriers on the red carpet, flaunting unconventional styles that challenge traditional norms.
As mentioned earlier, Pedro is as easily moved to tears as he is to laughter. He loves dogs, enjoys drinking tequila at noon, and often speaks fondly of his mother, who passed away when he was 24. In a world still dominated by ingrained stereotypes, Pedro Pascal stands out as a refreshing exception. He has never considered himself the “ideal” representation of the new generation, but it’s precisely the way he lives, acts, and loves that makes us continue to adore and appreciate him.